Pouring spout sleeve

ABSTRACT

According to some embodiments, a pouring spout sleeve is disclosed. The pouring spout sleeve comprises an upper ring defining an opening that is disposed at a center top portion of the pouring spout sleeve. The upper ring is for securing the pouring spout sleeve to a pouring spout that is inserted into a bottle. A plurality of inner rings circumscribes an inner portion of the pouring spout sleeve to secure the pouring spout sleeve to an exterior surface of the bottle.

BACKGROUND

In the bar and restaurant business the use of pour/pouring spouts 100, as shown in FIG. 1, is very common. These types pouring spouts are comprised of a gasket portion 115 made of rubber or plastic and a metallic or plastic spout portion 110 that is inserted into the gasket portion. Over time, as these pouring spouts 100 are removed from used bottles, and replaced into new bottles, small leaks may occur between the gasket portion 115 and the metallic or plastic spout portion 110. Therefore, a way to prevent leaks associated with pouring spouts is desired.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional pouring spout.

FIG. 2 illustrates a top view of a pouring spout sleeve in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 3 illustrates an inside view of a pouring spout sleeve in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 4 illustrates a pouring spout sleeve connected to a bottle in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 5 illustrates a pouring spout sleeve in accordance with some embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present embodiments described herein relate to a pouring spout sleeve that may be placed over a metallic or plastic spout portion of a pour spout to prevent the metallic or plastic spout portion from separating from the gasket portion and thus, the present embodiments described herein provide a cost-effective apparatus that that may prevent a pouring spout from leaking. The present embodiments also may prevent leaks where the pour spout meets the bottle.

A shown below in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, an embodiment of a removably coupled pouring spout sleeve 200 that may be configured to fit over a pour spout for reducing leaks is illustrated. The pouring spout sleeve 200 may be comprised of a flexible material (e.g., rubber, flexible plastic, thermoplastic elastomers, thermoplastic polyurethane, etc.) to facilitate the pouring spout sleeve 200 to flex over an outside (e.g. exterior surface) of a bottle and be secured to a side of the bottle. For example, and referring now to FIG. 4, the pouring spout sleeve 200 is illustrated as being fit over a top of a bottle 240 with a metallic or plastic spout portion 110 extending from the pouring spout sleeve 200. The pouring spout sleeve 200 may be held snug by a compression force against the bottle 240.

Referring now to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the pouring spout sleeve 200 may be secured to an outside of the bottle via a plurality of rings. For example, rings 225 and 230 may extend from an interior surface of the pouring spout sleeve 200 and an upper ring 205 may extend above, and from, an exterior surface 215 of the pouring spout sleeve 200 (e.g. from the top of the pouring spout sleeve 200). The upper ring 205 may define and opening 207. Rings 225 and 230 may circumscribe the interior of the sleeve 200. In some embodiments, portion of the rings 225 and 230 may not extend a uniform distance from an inner wall of the sleeve in certain areas to facilitate securing the sleeve to a bottle (e.g., portions of the plurality of inner rings extend a non-uniform distance from an inner wall of the sleeve).

The metallic or plastic spout portion may be inserted through the opening 207 defined by the upper ring 205 and the upper ring 205 may flex around the metallic or plastic spout portion to secure the sleeve 200 to the metallic or plastic spout portion and make a watertight seal. In this embodiment, a diameter of the opening 207 may be smaller than a diameter of the metallic or plastic spout portion to ensure that the upper ring 205 is secured to the metallic or plastic spout portion via a compression force. A bottle may be inserted into an opening 235 and the plurality of inner rings (e.g., rings 225 and 230) may flex over an exterior surface of the bottle such that the sleeve 200 flexes around the exterior surface of the bottle and also creates a watertight seal. The sleeve 200 may be held to the bottle by a compression force. In this way, the sleeve 200 may keep the metallic or plastic spout portion firmly inserted into the gasket portion because the sleeve is anchored to the exterior of the bottle. Furthermore, since the sleeve 200 may prevent separation of the metallic or plastic spout portion from the gasket portion, the sleeve 200 may also reduce parts of the pouring spout from being lost or accidentally thrown away. In some embodiments, the pouring spout may comprise a one-piece plastic pouring spout. A one-piece plastic pouring spout may leak from where the one-piece plastic pouring spout is insert into the bottle. In this case, the sleeve 200 may prevent the one-piece plastic pouring spout from pulling away from the bottle and thus may prevent leaks. In some embodiments, the pouring spout sleeve 200 may comprise a flexible cap (e.g., a cap shaped structure) with a smooth or textured exterior, a first opening on a top surface of the pouring spout sleeve 200 to receive a metallic or plastic spout portion, and a second opening on a bottom of the sleeve to receive a bottle. The first opening may be smaller than the second opening. In some embodiments a raised ring may be disposed on a top surface that circumscribes the first opening. An interior surface of the pouring spout sleeve 200 may comprise a plurality if inner rings.

Referring now to FIG. 5, an embodiment of a pouring spout sleeve 300 is illustrated. The pouring spout sleeve 300 may be color coded to help differentiate types of liquor in each respective bottle. In other words, a color of the pouring spout sleeve may be based on a type of liquor that will be held in a bottle. The pouring spout sleeve may also be used as a marketing/branding tool by adding logos or other markings on the sleeve.

In some embodiments, the pouring spout sleeve 300 may be created in a mold (e.g., molded) and may be fitted with one or more light emitting diode (LED) lights 320 and an electronic circuit 325. The electronic circuit 325 may be embedded within the flexible material of the pouring spout sleeve 300 during the molding process to keep the electronic circuit 325 watertight. The electronic circuit 325 may comprise a switching device and/or a battery (e.g., a “watch” battery) to act as a power source. In some embodiments, the battery may be replaceable via a battery compartment that is accessible to a user. However, in some embodiments, the battery may be embedded within the pouring spout sleeve and may not be replaceable. The LED lights 320 may protrude from, or be flush with, a top surface and/or a side of the sleeve to allow restaurants and bars to highlight and differentiate between certain bottles on a back bar. This may be beneficial for drawing attention to specific brands for promotional reasons and to drive sales.

The switching device may comprise a simple on/off switch that may be activated, for example, the switch may be embedded within the sleeve 300 and may be activated by pressing on a marked spot that is indicated on the sleeve 300. The switching device may comprise a programmable chip to control the LED lights and, in some embodiments, the electronic circuit 325 may provide information about a specified brand that may be transmitted wirelessly via a wireless connection such as radio frequency identification (RFID), Bluetooth, etc. In some embodiments, the electronic circuit 325 may comprise an integrated circuit chip or a programmable chip and information stored on the programmable chip may be changed wirelessly by a user and may be accessed by customers via a computer application (e.g., an app for a mobile device). Use of a programable chip may allow suppliers and distillers to provide a story behind the brand that is easily transmitted to consumers. This may facilitate front end users, such as restaurants and bars, to provide specials to customers via an app versus relying on word of mouth.

Those in the art will appreciate that various adaptations and modifications of the above-described embodiments can be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the claims. Therefore, it is to be understood that the claims may be practiced other than as specifically described herein. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A pouring spout sleeve to be removably coupled to a bottle, the pouring spout sleeve comprising; an upper ring defining an opening that is disposed at a center top portion of the pouring spout sleeve for securing the pouring spout sleeve to a pouring spout that is inserted into a bottle; and a plurality of inner rings that circumscribe an inner portion of the pouring spout sleeve to secure the pouring spout sleeve to an exterior surface of the bottle.
 2. The pouring spout sleeve of claim 1, wherein the upper ring extends above a top surface of the pouring spout sleeve.
 3. The pouring spout sleeve of claim 1, wherein the pouring spout sleeve is comprised of a flexible material.
 4. The pouring spout sleeve of claim 1, wherein portions of the plurality of inner rings extend a non-uniform distance from an inner wall of the pouring spout sleeve.
 5. The pouring spout sleeve of claim 1, further comprising one or more light emitting diodes that are disposed flush with a top surface of the pouring spout sleeve.
 6. The pouring spout sleeve of claim 1, further comprising one or more light emitting diodes that are protruding from a top surface of the pouring spout sleeve.
 7. The pouring spout sleeve of claim 1, further comprising an embedded electronic circuit to control one or more light emitting diodes.
 8. The pouring spout sleeve of claim 1, wherein a color of the pouring spout sleeve is based on a type of liquor that will be held in a bottle.
 9. A pouring spout sleeve to be removably coupled to a bottle, the pouring spout sleeve comprising; an upper ring extending above a top surface of the pouring spout sleeve and defining an opening that is disposed at a center top portion of the pouring spout sleeve for securing the pouring spout sleeve to a pouring spout that is inserted into a bottle; and a plurality of inner rings that circumscribe an inner portion of the pouring spout sleeve to secure the pouring spout sleeve to an exterior surface of the bottle.
 10. The pouring spout sleeve of claim 9, wherein the pouring spout sleeve is comprised of a flexible material.
 11. The pouring spout sleeve of claim 9, wherein portions of the plurality of inner rings extend a non-uniform distance from an inner wall of the sleeve.
 12. The pouring spout sleeve of claim 9, further comprising one or more light emitting diodes protruding from a top surface of the pouring spout sleeve.
 13. The pouring spout sleeve of claim 12, further comprising an embedded electronic circuit to control the one or more light emitting diodes.
 14. A pouring spout sleeve to be removably coupled to a bottle, the pouring spout sleeve comprising; a smooth flexible cap shaped structure; a first opening on a top surface of the cap shaped structure to receive a metallic or plastic spout; a second opening on a bottom of the cap shaped structure to receive a bottle, wherein the first opening is smaller than the second opening; a raised ring disposed on a top surface of the cap shaped structure that circumscribes the first opening; and an interior surface of the cap shaped structure may comprise comprising a plurality of inner rings that circumscribe an inner portion of the cap shaped structure to secure the cap shaped structure to an exterior surface of the bottle.
 15. The pouring spout sleeve of claim 14, further comprising one or more light emitting diodes flush with a top surface of the cap shaped structure.
 16. The pouring spout sleeve of claim 14, further comprising one or more light emitting diodes protruding from a top surface of the cap shaped structure.
 17. The pouring spout sleeve of claim 14, further comprising an embedded electronic circuit to control one or more light emitting diodes. 